CLERGATE Road resident Terry Reilly says urgent upgrades are needed to the road’s surface as traffic flow increases in the north Orange area.

Mr Reilly said while he applauds a recent reduction to the speed limit on a section of the road, the deterioration of the road’s surface, not speed, is the key reason the road is unsafe.

“It’s just very dangerous,” Mr Reilly said.

“The entire length of Clergate Road has a poor surface and a section north of Industry Drive becomes a waterway after rain.

“The subsidence of the road surface near the old Canobolas Wooltop is extremely dangerous when drivers pass on this section, and the surface on the sharp S-bend section further out is again a very dangerous.”

Mr Reilly said he expects Clergate Road to become even busier when McDonald’s opens in north Orange.

“With the new McDonald’s opening it’s probable that the Farrell Road and Clergate Road intersection is going to have a large increase in traffic flow.

“This intersection has a steep downhill approach with a rough narrow surface and low visibility to Clergate Road traffic.

“Again the Clergate Road Northern Distributor intersection has very low visibility to the west when approaching on Clergate Road because of the embankment and overgrown bush.”

Mr Reilly said with two new industrial estates and a housing complex now located in Clergate Road even more drivers were at risk.